RYBPalette

The RYB color model is a subtractive color model that attempts to explain how colors are created by mixing red, yellow, and blue pigments. The model is also known as the primary color model and was widely used in color theory before the development of additive color models like RGB.

According to the RYB model, the primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. By mixing different combinations of these colors, a variety of secondary colors can be produced. The secondary colors are created by mixing two primary colors, such as red and yellow to create orange, yellow and blue to create green, and red and blue to create purple.

Despite its widespread use in art education, the RYB model has been largely discredited in the field of color science. This is because it oversimplifies the complex physics of color mixing and fails to account for many color phenomena. For example, it does not explain how certain colors can be created by mixing three colors, a phenomenon known as additive mixing.

The RYB model was developed by Isaac Newton in the late 17th century and was later refined by other color scientists. However, the model's limitations became apparent in the early 20th century, when more accurate and comprehensive color models like CMYK and RGB were developed. These models take into account the way light interacts with different wavelengths of light and have become the standard in color reproduction.

Today, the RYB model is primarily used in educational settings as an introduction to basic color concepts. However, it is not considered a reliable model for professional color work or color reproduction.